Tag: Year in Review


2022-Week 53 – Year in Review

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Where do we begin? 2022 was a wild year, full of food, tech, travel, and fun. The site stats continue to improve, with an average traffic rate of just over 5000 page views per month. Thanks for returning to read my weekly ramblings! With that, let’s go back and revisit some of the highlights from 2022.

Food in 2022

Tech in 2022

Travel in 2022

Fun in 2022

What’s in store for 2023?

While I can’t predict what 2023 has in store, I’m already planning several trips to new places around the US and maybe even an international trip, or two, later in the year. We’ll continue the weekly post schedule, as that seems to be doable on all but the craziest weeks. I have a lot of post ideas saved up, and I look forward to sharing what I’ve found and continuing with my thoughts and observations. Happy New Year, and we’ll see you again next week!

, January 1, 2023. No Comments on 2022-Week 53 – Year in Review Best Of, Entertainment, Food, Observations, Photography, Technology, Travel ,

2021 Week 52 – Looks Like We Made It!

It’s the final Sunday of 2021 & it’s time for another Year in Review! I wanted to bring the blog back to life this year and post at least once a week. I missed a few weeks throughout the year, but overall I’m pleased with how I was able to keep things active. Along the way, I kept a list of ideas to discuss, so I should always have some content as I attempt to keep this up in 2022.

The weekly format seems to work well as it allows me to summarize the previous 7-days and add some additional content that appears relevant (or fun). As I did last year, this post will be a summary of the past year. It’s been another wild year with Covid and all the VAX/Boost discussions but we’re in the home stretch. Next Sunday will be the first post of 2022!

January 2021
I turned an old Mac into a Linux machine (and still use it)
President Biden was sworn into office
We had sushi in Fortville
I cooked Mushroom Bourguignon for the first time

  • The Godfather special at Hoagies and Hops

February 2021
I shared our family favorite Scalloped Potato Gratin
Started visiting A2Z Cafe again for lunch (Closed on Monday)
The Bon Appetite Test Kitchen falls apart
Clancy’s opens in the garage Food Hall
We visited Indy Tacos

March 2021
Discovered a Vegan Cheeseball that fooled everyone I served it to (AmazeBall)
Dropped Lass Pass for BitWarden (and never looked back)
Hoagies and Hops opens a new location in Fletcher Place (now closing on 12/31)
Life in Indy launches
I start playing Disk Golf (Like Ball Golf only better)

April 2021
We discover J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (although I mentioned him on the Blog in 2010)
My First COVID Vaccination at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Saraga plans to open a store in Castleton (still not open)
Baseball returns and I actually watch it (Go Reds!)
I order a TidByt (it was delivered the day before Christmas, review coming soon)
I finally ate at Loughmiller’s Pub & Eatery (free cookie Monday)
More Disk Golf (I’m hooked)

May 2021
I visit the Gus Grissom Monument In Mitchel, Indiana
Hiking at  Hemlock Cliffs
More Disk Golf at a Monastery in Southern Indiana
I finally try Chris’s Ice Cream And fall in love with their Chorizo Burrito
First camping trip of the year at Indian-Celina Lake Campground

June 2021
Bought a WOOL T-Shirt (and LOVE it)
Who could forget the 17-Year Cicada Brood
Built a Pi Weather Station (use this daily)
More Disk Golf
Travel to Cincy and visit the War Birds Museum, and Jungle Jims, for fathers Day

July 2021
Road Trip to the Allegheny National Forest (So much rain)
Found a proper Beef on Weck at the Bar-Bill Tavern (I have dreams about this sando)
Visited Niagara Falls (nicer than I remember)
Visited the Zippo/Case Museum
FINALLY saw Rock City (only to find out it’s not the one I saw signs for growing up)
Walked the Kinzua Bridge State Park in Kane, PA

August 2021
Reviewed the Termacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller  (this thing works)
Started the Keto diet
Downloaded the Grammarly app (I needed it)
Updated the Blog Theme

October 2021
Reviewed Upland Brewing (Jalapeno Blue Cheese Sauce)
Bought an iPad Pro (FINALLY)
Reviewed Grammarly
Reviewed the 99% Invisible Podcast

September 2021
MORE Disk Golf
Looked at the WP Recipe Maker plugin (too much work)
20 years since 9/11
677,737 American deaths attributed to COVID so far
Visited San Diego

November 2021
Bought a new Apple Watch
Updated my Kindle Paperwhite
Watched the Donut King Documentary
Visited Findlay Market
Permanent Record by Edward Snowden (READ this)
No Place to Hide by Glenn Greenwald (then READ THIS)

December 2021
We made it up to Condado Tacos at Hamilton Town Center
Checked out the Guggman Haus brewery
Purchased Grammarly (worth the $)
Reviewed the new Kindle paperwhite
The Union Jack Pub MOVED!

So that’s it for 2021. We covered a lot of ground this year and started some new things. The Keto “diet” has turned into more of a “watch those carbs” lifestyle and I’m happy to report I’ve had some moderate success. Disk Golf was something new this year and I really enjoyed playing various courses around the area. San Diego was a nice escape, even though I was there for work, and the Allegheny National Forest was one of the nicest camping trips I’ve had in a while, despite all the rain.

Here’s to another year, and thanks for reading!

, December 26, 2021. No Comments on 2021 Week 52 – Looks Like We Made It! Best Of, Blogging, Camping, Entertainment, Food, Hiking, Observations, Recipe, Shopping, Sports, Technology, Travel ,

2021 Week 1 – Happy New year?

So how was your 2020? It was an interesting one to say the least. Something we’ll all remember the rest of our lives. My New Years resolution is to try & revive the blog with a weekly posting format that will allow me to build each post as the week progresses and publish the summary once a week.

The following is a 2020 recap by month via pictures I took along the way. Warning, there will be a LOT of food pictures. If you follow me on Social Media a lot of these are re-posts but I’m adding more context. You can click on each one for a larger image.

January 2020

  • Finally made it to Working Man’s Friend for a legendary burger. Why did it take me so long to visit?
  • Celebrated a successful 2019 with the team from work (Cowboy Ribeyes at Sullivan’s)
  • Started playing with Sports Betting (have turned $50 into $400 this year).
  • Had the best Calamari EVER at King Dough.

February 2020

  • Interviewed the founder of Clustertruck and got a behind the scenes look at the downtown operation.
  • Made a killer Deep Dish Pizza to celebrate Super Bowl LIV.
  • And some homemade Coconut Marshmallows for for people at work.
  • Correctly guessed the winner of the Daytona 500 and turned $5 into $53.75.

March 2020

  • Covid is starting to get a lot of coverage in the news and we start testing a new video collaboration tool called “Zoom”.
  • The Covid Memes also start to become a daily sight.
  • Last burger and Fry combo at Kreuger’s in Indianapolis (they closed after this).
  • I put the 3D printer to use and start printing sanitation hooks for friends and family.
  • The Work From Home revolution begins as office parking lots start looking like a late Friday afternoon every day of the week.

April 2020

  • Found a new casserole that is the definition of Comfort Food.
  • Got a free speed bump on the home Internet so working from home was lightning fast!
  • Baked bread and ate a LOT of BLT’s throughout the year.
  • Had to upgrade the home networking setup to make the speed boost more usable.
  • Took advantage of a new Kincaid’s butcher shop opening up right down the street (Spud Buddies and Flank Steak).

May 2020

  • Early in May I had a Covid-19 scare and proceeded to the Lilly testing sight in Downtown Indianapolis. Test was negative.
  • Added some flair to the Zoom background in my makeshift dining room studio.
  • Continued to help keep Kincaid’s in business.
  • And the BLT’s were the go-to meal when working from home.
  • Operation American Resolve was a tribute to the front line healthcare workers.
  • Followed by a Blue Angel’s tour of the USA. They flew right over my office when they visited Indianapolis.
  • Civil Unrest brought out the ISP Chopper to keep an eye on things downtown (Flight track from Flightaware).
  • The Rose Bush in the front of the house decided to flex and brightened up the landscape.

June 2020

  • In June I set off to Indian-Celina Lake in southern Indiana for some camping. It was nice to have the campground pretty much all to myself!
  • The guys at work decided it was time for some Socially Distant Golf so we hit up a small little public course on the east side of Indy.
  • My Son wanted Pizza one night so we made pizza!
  • Bought a new Police Scanner to keep up with all the things going on downtown.
  • The YoHo General Store in Solsberry, Indiana was a place to stop for lunch…
  • …While I visited the Tulip Trestle in Bloomfield.
  • George Floyd mural on Mass Ave in Indianapolis (not my photo).

July 2020

  • Right before the July 4th Holiday we received bad news about Kincaid’s. They would end up being closed much longer than they anticipated (until October).
  • We celebrated Independence day with a BBQ chicken on the Big Green Egg.
  • Once of many beautiful sunsets from the backyard in 2020.
  • Introduced my son to the Soft Shell Crab roll at Ocean World in Indianapolis.
  • Lucked out on an NBA wager to end the month.

August 2020

  • I found and tried the “Danzig” of wines (80’s music reference if you didn’t know).
  • Discovered COCONUT ALMONDS! These are addictive & don’t last long after bring purchased.
  • Re-visited an old friend at Shapiro’s Deli. They took a big hit in 2020 but were still producing a quality product when I visited.
  • It was time to update my Avatar.
  • Speaking of visiting, we took a road trip to Gas City and tried Payne’s Fish and Chips. The Fattoush salad was delicious and they cook up a mean plate of food. Well worth the visit if you’re in the area!

September 2020

  • Took another trip to Indian-Celina Lake early in the month.
  • Tried to predict the future and placed a $5 bet on Notre Dame to win it all (they play in the semi-finals on the day I’m writing this post).
  • Took another camping trip a few weeks later. This time a multi-day, multi-state adventure. Starting in Madison Indiana at Clifty Falls. Just in time for the first Presidential debate. Bingo cards from the No Agenda podcast.
  • The next day I headed farther south to Mammoth Cave. I hadn’t been there since I was a kid. I picked a great time to visit. The crowds were non-existent and the camping area was wide open.
  • You aren’t allowed to burn regular firewood at this park so you have to use Bio-Blocks. I was skeptical but they actually worked great!

October 2020

  • Continuing the multi-day, multi-state adventure I started the morning with a drive to Nashville, which is in the news the week I write this because of a huge explosion.
  • While looking for a BBQ place for lunch I drove by Hugh Baby’s and the smell drew me in.
  • I ended up ordering the Mushroom Swiss Smash Burger (with SMOKED MUSHROOMS) and it was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. I still have dreams about it 3-months later.
  • Traveling northwest to Land Between the Lakes I drove around a corner to find a giant Minecraft looking structure. Turns out it’s a Charcoal Blast Furnace. I ended up seeing several of these on my travels and each one was just as interesting as the last.
  • Woke up to a COLD morning at Land Between the Lakes, probably because I was camping lakeside.
  • That afternoon I drove up to Garden of the Gods for some breathtaking views.
  • After arriving home I turned on the first episode of Ted Lasso (best show of 2020 in my opinion) and proceeded finish the season by the next day.
  • The following weekend I met some family in Auburn to tour the Cord Duesenberg Museum. It was HUGE and totally worth the 2-hour drive from Indianapolis.
  • Work had me downtown a few days later and I just had to stop in and get some Bison Meatloaf at St. Joseph’s Brewery.
  • Oct 31 was a sad day. The BEST James Bond (Daniel Craig is a close second) passed away at 90 years of age.

November 2020

  • Indianapolis continued to be boarded up because of the threat of election day violence.
  • Left the office & had a Weinermobile spotting!
  • Discovered a clever artist in Indy (@itghostwithoutsaying on Instagram).
  • The Cobb Salad at Bru Burger, it’s a work of art.
  • Red Bird in the front tree, trying out the new iPhone 12 Pro.
  • Hoagies & Hops was selling Taylor Ham (pork roll) and I could not pass up making a classic sandwich (pork roll, egg, & cheese on a Kaiser roll).

December 2020

  • I think I found the Cookie of the year
  • 2020 even caused Trader Joe’s to shut down
  • I decided it was time to make some chicken stock for some upcoming soups and stews.
  • Even though most agree Die Hard isn’t a Christmas Movie I thought this was funny.
  • And last but not least, The Oatmeal figured out how to properly end the year.

Well if you made it this far THANK YOU for sticking with me. After realizing I was neglecting the blog I felt it was time for a super post to get caught up. As I said above my goal is to post a weekly summary with all of the things I found relevant throughout the week. We’ll see if I can actually pull it off.

It will be interesting to see what reverts back and what stays the same. I think working from home, for some, is going to be the new norm. I can’t help to think masks will be part of our way of life for years to come, especially during flu season. I’m glad we all made it through 2020 and I’m looking forward to, hopefully, getting back to the way things used to be.

See you next week!

, January 1, 2021. No Comments on 2021 Week 1 – Happy New year? Best Of, Blogging, Food, Observations, Photography ,